We know that Formula 1 is a major energy-consuming sport. The cars can go at such high speeds that they consume as much fuel as a large Boeing 747. But this doesn’t mean that Formula 1 is bad for the environment.
In fact, it does quite the opposite. Formula 1 has been around for over 50 years and in this time it’s been taking steps to make the sport more environmentally friendly. In recent years, F1 has worked towards a goal of zero-carbon emissions by 2050 and powered its events with 100% renewable electricity since 2012. There are also other environmental benefits to be found within the sport: from restoring degraded habitats to making cycling safer and putting an end to illegal deforestation across Brazil.
In this post, I will write about 3 basic F1 harmful effects, but then I will present the top 5 reasons why F1 is actually good for the environment.
Table of Contents
3 Harmful Effects of Formula 1 Racing
- Emissions & Air Pollution – Pollution from racing, to the tune of 8 million pounds per year.
- Land Use – The area around a typical track is largely undeveloped, meaning there’s no need for that land to be used in any other way.
- Noise Pollution – The noise created by racers can reach levels louder than 115 decibels, which is about the level of sitting on a military aircraft carrier flight deck.
5 reasons why F1 is good for the environment
- F1 Expands Environmental Awareness – Formula 1 introduced green tires which are more biodegradable and can break down in as little as 12 months, reducing the need for plastic recycling processing plants.
- F1 enhances human capacity to create alternative energy sources – F1 is uses artificial intelligence to search for alternative energies. It can analyze vast amounts of data and provide potential solutions to humans, saving up to 60% of time. Artificial intelligence is being used by the renewable energy industry in order to help find environmentally friendly alternatives for power generation, manufacturing, and distribution. However, this is not the only use of AI in the field of renewable energy because it also applies to other related fields such as research, policy development and regulation.
- F1 cars emit less pollution than before – With advancements in technology, cars are becoming more fuel efficient than ever before. Now, they emit less pollution than before. With the growth of electric cars and other forms of green cars that will emit even less pollution, the future is looking bright.
- F1 car engines produce about 20% less CO2 than a typical road vehicle, and they use a bi-fuel system, which means they can be powered by either gasoline or biofuels such as ethanol or biodiesel.
- F1 car engines have been designed to produce more power from a given volume of fuel, so they emit less nitrogen oxide and other pollutants that cause acid rain and smog.
Is Formula 1 sustainable?
Yes, Formula 1 is sustainable. F1 is a sport that demands a lot from its drivers and car manufacturers. With the new regulations in place, the sport is becoming more sustainable. Formula 1 management is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 2020, which will then help it achieve its goal of being a completely renewable-energy powered race series by 2025.
There are many benefits of going green that Formula 1 has already begun to reap. The benefits include a decrease in costs, increased performance for cars and drivers, and the ability to attract major sponsors who want to align themselves with a sustainable program.
Do F1 cars use bio fuel?
Yes, F1 cars use biofuel. Currently, the engines in F1 cars are fuelled with gasoline. A mixture of 50% biofuel and 50% gasoline is used in order to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions. The use of biofuel for cars is commonplace today, but it wasn’t always this way.
The first car running on a mix of petrol and ethanol was manufactured by General Motors back in 1908. Ethanol has been used for more than 100 years as an additive to help make petrol burn better, or as a replacement for petrol altogether. This has led to the development of E85 which is 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel that has been used for more than 100 years. This fuel is commonly added to petrol in order to create E10 which is 10% ethanol, or it can be used as a substitute for petrol. The popularity of ethanol has grown recently with the development of E85 which has 85% ethanol content.
Is F1 going electric?
Formula 1’s technical director Ross Brawn revealed that the racing series could eventually go all-electric, but that he would wait until the technology advances enough to make the racing exciting
“I think Formula 1 will evolve in the direction that has the right balance of sport, relevance, and engagement with the fans, stated Brawn in a video on F1 Fan Voice. If in five years’ time or ten years’ time there is a need, desire, or wish to have a different type of power unit in F1, then we will do it. There is nothing to stop us having electric Formula 1 cars in the future.”
Formula 1 has been a traditional and conservative sport for years. But this is no longer the case. Recently, F1 has been trying to make their racing more sustainable and eco-friendly by planning to have an electric car instead of an internal combustion engine.
The new regulations will force teams to switch from the current 2.4-liter V6 hybrid power units, which were introduced in 2014, with a 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged engine running on a battery with 4x the capacity. This would be the most dramatic change in F1 since 1991 when it became a global television event through being televised live in Europe for the first time in history.
